Report: Microsoft testing Google Glass competitor

Redmond determined to not be left behind in wearable computing race

According to The Wall Street Journal, Microsoft is deploying prototype Google Glass-style eyewear to testers as part of a positioning effort in the wearable computing market. The information comes from "people familiar with the matter," which is generally journalism code for people directly involved with the topic at hand who wish to remain anonymous.

The report is somewhat light on details, but it mentions that Microsoft is "keeping close tabs" on the broader wearable computing market—a market Microsoft remains on the outside of.

The report speculates a bit about Microsoft's longer-term plans there, noting that the software giant is in the process of transforming itself from primarily a software and services company into more of a mixed hardware manufacturer. This is the opposite of what other traditional hardware companies are trying to do (witness Léo Apotheker's disastrous and abortive attempt to dump HP's personal computer division), but the Journal's anonymous source is quoted as saying that Microsoft is "determined to take the lead in hardware manufacturing to make sure the company won't miss out on the opportunities in the wearable gadget market."

Google is one of the big players in the wearable computing market today, not only from the perspective of mindshare, but also in development spend. The question that arises here is if Microsoft is truly trying to skate to where the proverbial puck is going to be by embracing wearable computing, or if it's instead simply chasing its current biggest rival. Google has long been the target of a lot of chair-throwing ire by Microsoft executives, and several Microsoft products have aped Google offerings.

However, it's unclear at this point whether "Microsoft Glass" will ever actually be a thing. The Journal's source indicates that the prototype currently in testing may never grow up to be a mass-produced consumer device.

Lee Hutchinson
Lee is the Senior Technology Editor at Ars and oversees gadget, automotive, IT, and culture content. He also knows stuff about enterprise storage, security, and manned space flight. Lee is based in Houston, TX. Emaillee.hutchinson@arstechnica.com//Twitter@Lee_Ars

I should also point out (pun intended) that Microsoft's work with the Kinect style technology could give them a real hand (another pun intended) for integrating in advanced gesture-based control to wearable devices of this class. It could definitely give them a leg up (okay I'll stop now) on the competition.

Forget the dumb glasses. The idea of a permanent HUD overlaid on your daily life is a cool one but honestly I just can't think of that many things that I need constant awareness of - this isn't an FPS game, I don't have an ammo count or health meter to keep track of.

Instead, I want a Pip-Boy/Leela's arm computer. It allows for a ton more screen space than a 'smartwatch' could, it has enough room to include a flip-down keypad, and it could be covered by long sleeves if you don't want to go around cosplaying Locutus all day.

This was in that leaked roadmap slide-deck from last year.. The one Microsoft said was a hoax but then filed take down notices for.. I think it was supposed to be out by 2015.. they were going to do some sort of cloud gaming on them as well.

By 2014, the planning document sees Microsoft following Google into the hands-free, head-mounted display space with a product that is referred to as both "Kinect Glasses" and "Fortaleza Glasses" at different points. The "breakthrough heads-up, hands-free" devices will "deliver ambient experiences" and provide "seamless integration of the digital world with the physical world." Through Xbox Live, the glasses will be able to provide "real time information on people, places and objects."

Forget the dumb glasses. The idea of a permanent HUD overlaid on your daily life is a cool one but honestly I just can't think of that many things that I need constant awareness of - this isn't an FPS game, I don't have an ammo count or health meter to keep track of.

Instead, I want a Pip-Boy/Leela's arm computer. It allows for a ton more screen space than a 'smartwatch' could, it has enough room to include a flip-down keypad, and it could be covered by long sleeves if you don't want to go around cosplaying Locutus all day.

It could actually be useful for some things if it integrated with implants in the body. Hydration levels, blood sugar, white cell count, and many other health related things. that said, the market for people who need (and would want) that sort of thing is small.

It could actually be useful for some things if it integrated with implants in the body. Hydration levels, blood sugar, white cell count, and many other health related things. that said, the market for people who need (and would want) that sort of thing is small.

"You are in perfect health. You are strong enough to take several wounds."

Forget the dumb glasses. The idea of a permanent HUD overlaid on your daily life is a cool one but honestly I just can't think of that many things that I need constant awareness of - this isn't an FPS game, I don't have an ammo count or health meter to keep track of.

Instead, I want a Pip-Boy/Leela's arm computer. It allows for a ton more screen space than a 'smartwatch' could, it has enough room to include a flip-down keypad, and it could be covered by long sleeves if you don't want to go around cosplaying Locutus all day.

It could actually be useful for some things if it integrated with implants in the body. Hydration levels, blood sugar, white cell count, and many other health related things. that said, the market for people who need (and would want) that sort of thing is small.

Yeah, there are DEFINITELY some very specialized uses for HUD-glasses that would be really cool, but as a serious hypochondriac I really don't want that kind of stuff in general purpose consumer electronics. I can just imagine the feedback loop it would create: "Oh no! My blood pressure is going up! Oh no, worrying about my blood pressure going up is making it go up faster! Ahh! It's getting critical! OH MY GOD ACKKKKKKK*"

* The "ackkkk" is the sound I would make as my heart ruptures into a million bloody chunks in my chest.

Back when the world was a decent place, a person's word meant something and the worst thing you could do was to--sometimes to the point of suicide--dishonor your family's name. At that point in time, the saying

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" was truly correct. Not any more.

Now all it means is that "Hey! We've got to cash in on this baby, 'cause everybody and his brother is going to do it, too. Not only that, but WE'RE DESPERATE! WALL STREET WANTS RESULTS NOW."Not only that, but we don't have any engineers to think up new products. ONLY STUFFED SUITS whose only claim to fame is copying whatever the competition does.".

Are we in trouble yet?************************************************************************************20:32 EDT

Having to think about morals is a REAL BITCH, eh, airheads?The only thing wrong with what asshole Clinton did was get caught; right, airheads?Careful about developing any leaks; You'll cease to exist. Not that you do in any meaningful way.

It could actually be useful for some things if it integrated with implants in the body. Hydration levels, blood sugar, white cell count, and many other health related things. that said, the market for people who need (and would want) that sort of thing is small.

Just because I am wearing one doesn't mean the display has to be on all the time. If Project Glass ever comes to the $300 ball park and works independently or in conjunction with my Nexus 4, I would love to buy one. I wear glasses anyways so if my next Warby Parker is a $395 Project Glass (and still donates a free probably-not-hi-tech pair for every pair I buy), I say that is a win-win all around.

Microsoft is perpetually late to the party recently. They haven't been innovative in decades, instead taking the "Copy, subsidize, mass market, starve competition" route.. Its worked with smaller companies, but companies like Google that have the clout to put up a fight have been handing Microsoft defeat after defeat.

Microsoft: Where would you like to go today?... We can get you there in a few years.

It could actually be useful for some things if it integrated with implants in the body. Hydration levels, blood sugar, white cell count, and many other health related things. that said, the market for people who need (and would want) that sort of thing is small.

Just because I am wearing one doesn't mean the display has to be on all the time. If Project Glass ever comes to the $300 ball park and works independently or in conjunction with my Nexus 4, I would love to buy one. I wear glasses anyways so if my next Warby Parker is a $395 Project Glass (and still donates a free probably-not-hi-tech pair for every pair I buy), I say that is a win-win all around.

It could actually be useful for some things if it integrated with implants in the body. Hydration levels, blood sugar, white cell count, and many other health related things. that said, the market for people who need (and would want) that sort of thing is small.

Just because I am wearing one doesn't mean the display has to be on all the time. If Project Glass ever comes to the $300 ball park and works independently or in conjunction with my Nexus 4, I would love to buy one. I wear glasses anyways so if my next Warby Parker is a $395 Project Glass (and still donates a free probably-not-hi-tech pair for every pair I buy), I say that is a win-win all around.

I am super confused as to why how this is a reply to my comment.

It shouldn’t be non-high-tech it should be double-high-tech.. I’m picturing homeless people decked out like Borg drones.. maybe time for a Kickstarter..

Microsoft is perpetually late to the party recently. They haven't been innovative in decades, instead taking the "Copy, subsidize, mass market, starve competition" route.. Its worked with smaller companies, but companies like Google that have the clout to put up a fight have been handing Microsoft defeat after defeat.

Microsoft: Where would you like to go today?... We can get you there in a few years.

This is one party that if they had any sense, they wouldn't even show up at.

I've never been one to be a Microsoft basher, I've always thought they were one of the great stories in American business history, but let's face it.

Microsoft has never really "innovated" anything. They bought the precursor Disk Operating System from Seattle Computer Products for $50,000 , made some changes to it, and licensed it to IBM and the clones afterwards, and their fortune was sealed. You have to credit them with superb vision going forward of what was about to happen, but you cannot deny their lack of vision afterwards when they got fat, dumb and happy.

Networking? Me too!

Internet? Me too!

Game Consoles? Me too!

Portable digital music? Me too!

A search engine and maps? Me too!

Smartphones? Me too!

Now this. I enjoy using their software, and they do produce some very good software, however they have become the biggest and richest "Me too!" company on the planet.

Forget the dumb glasses. The idea of a permanent HUD overlaid on your daily life is a cool one but honestly I just can't think of that many things that I need constant awareness of - this isn't an FPS game, I don't have an ammo count or health meter to keep track of.

Instead, I want a Pip-Boy/Leela's arm computer. It allows for a ton more screen space than a 'smartwatch' could, it has enough room to include a flip-down keypad, and it could be covered by long sleeves if you don't want to go around cosplaying Locutus all day.

ID of people for those of us with crappy people memory or other good info including alert. I like concept.

Microsoft is perpetually late to the party recently. They haven't been innovative in decades, instead taking the "Copy, subsidize, mass market, starve competition" route.. Its worked with smaller companies, but companies like Google that have the clout to put up a fight have been handing Microsoft defeat after defeat.

Microsoft: Where would you like to go today?... We can get you there in a few years.

If you ignore all new their innovation then sure. Frankly, they out-innovate Apple.

I've never been one to be a Microsoft basher, I've always thought they were one of the great stories in American business history, but let's face it.

Microsoft has never really "innovated" anything. They bought the precursor Disk Operating System from Seattle Computer Products for $50,000 , made some changes to it, and licensed it to IBM and the clones afterwards, and their fortune was sealed. You have to credit them with superb vision going forward of what was about to happen, but you cannot deny their lack of vision afterwards when they got fat, dumb and happy.

Networking? Me too!

Err, what? You might want to be bit more specific, because currently it looks like nonsense or very selective label.

Quote:

Internet? Me too!

Not much behind.

Quote:

Game Consoles? Me too!

Nonsensical statement. And very selective.

Quote:

Portable digital music? Me too!

So was Apple. Extremely selective.

Quote:

A search engine and maps? Me too!

So was Google. Another extremely selective.

Quote:

Smartphones? Me too!

As was Apple, Google and rest aka nonsensical and quite wrong statement and very selective.

Quote:

Now this. I enjoy using their software, and they do produce some very good software, however they have become the biggest and richest "Me too!" company on the planet.

Wrong on majority or all accounts, and ignoring many things. BTW: You described Samsung, not Microsoft.(Otherwise it would apply to Apple and Google too)

Anyone who has paid attention for the last 20 years can plainly see that Microsoft are copycats and bandwagon jumpers. Does that make them evil? Not really, it's a business, and it also doesn't make the products they introduce bad in some way. They can rise or fall on their own merit.

Did Samsung or Apple or any of the others copy and/or imitate anything? Sure they did. This happens in a lot of industries, not just tech. Back in the day, before all the obsessive patenting really got rolling, they copied from each other like crazy.

But the ONE market that Microsoft created on their own, more or less, was the market for their software on IBM PCs and later, the PC clones.

What does "innovate" mean anyway, other than a corporate speak buzzword?

Microsoft is perpetually late to the party recently. They haven't been innovative in decades, instead taking the "Copy, subsidize, mass market, starve competition" route.. Its worked with smaller companies, but companies like Google that have the clout to put up a fight have been handing Microsoft defeat after defeat.

Microsoft: Where would you like to go today?... We can get you there in a few years.